Copper thieves target former convent

ALTON — Copper thieves made a much larger haul than usual recently, clearing out pipe from the vacant Ursuline Convent that sits isolated on 27 wooded acres in North Alton.

Police were at the convent and adjoining Queen of Peace infirmary, 845 Danforth St., on Friday morning investigating the burglary to that main, 38,000-square-foot brick building. It appeared that someone also had stolen the old metal downspouts from the two-story structure, which opened in 1926.

A reporter was unable to obtain information on Friday from the Alton Police Department on the incident, including when it may have happened.

The last residents left the facility in October 2014. An auction company then sold its contents last spring, including furniture, artwork, statues and religious objects.

The Ursulines subsequently put the property up for sale this spring, which also has some outbuildings. Listing price is $1.35 million.

Alton Police Chief Jason “Jake” Simmons had been renting one of the small buildings as a residence. Information was not available Friday as to whether he had been on the property at time of the burglary and theft or if he was instrumental in discovering the incident.

A reporter also was unable to reach Susan Whelan, director of communications and development for Ursuline Sisters’ Central Province in St. Louis on Friday for information.

The aging sisters who resided in the convent and infirmary were gradually relocated after the Ursulines announced in late November 2013 that the facility would close. An 18-month study had revealed the order did not have the financial resources with which to keep the facility open.

At time of the announcement, there were 35 sisters living in the facilities, 33 Ursulines and two from the Divine Providence order. Whelan said most of the sisters were in their 80s and 90s; at that time the age range was from the mid-60s to 101.

The order relocated 13 of the women to facilities in Alton, moving the rest to retirement and health care facilities in New Orleans and Eureka, Mo.

The Ursulines have been in Alton since 1859, when they came to the city to teach. They opened and staffed parish schools in the greater Alton area, and built the convent in 1926.